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When I was a young boy growing up in San Diego, this was one of my favorite places to visit. I loved going in the "tram" around the park to see the animals "close up." Many of our friends have asked where to go when they go to San Diego. I always recommend this over the zoo. It's been many years since I was last at the Wild Animal Park and I was very disappointed. The park has not been as well maintained as I remembered and the kids were pretty bored most of the day. I did capture some great shots of the animals... and, for the record, I would go back again, if for no other reason than to see the animals in a more natural state.

The elephants have and always will be my favorite animal. Elephants gather together in large groups, often 5-20 animals at a time. The Matriarch leads the group and is the most experienced female animal in the group. Elephants often protect their youngest members by surrounding them and guarding them against predators, in their world, it takes a village to raise a child. When Elephants die, they mourn their dead, often burying them with branches, dirt or any other debris they can find. They will linger in the area for several days.

All the water in the Wild Animal Park comes from aquifers. The San Diego Zoo (owns the WAP) promised the city of Escondido (the incorporated parts of the park) that they would never take city water to keep the park running. They've kept their promise for more than 20 years now.

There's no caging these wild beasts. You can find them roaming the wild parts of Salt Lake County!